The Sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) features a closed fuel cycle for efficient conversion of fertile uranium and management of minor actinides. A full actinide-recycle fuel cycle is envisioned with two major options: One involves intermediatesized (150 to 500 MWe) sodium-cooled fast reactors with uranium-plutonium-minor-actinidezirconium metal alloy fuel, supported by a fuel cycle based on pyrometallurgical processing in colocated facilities. The second involves medium to large (500 to 1500 MWe) sodium-cooled reactors with mixed uranium-plutonium oxide fuel, supported by a fuel cycle based upon advanced aqueous processing at a centralized location serving a number of reactors. Owing to the number of sodium fast reactors built and demonstrated around the world, and thus their technological maturity, the primary focus of the R&D is on the recycle technology and economics of the overall system.

On the reactor side, demonstration of passive safety and improvements in inspection and serviceability will be emphasized. The SFR system is primarily envisioned for missions in actinide management and electricity production. The SFR system is the nearest-term actinide management system of the Generation IV alternatives, with a schedule driven mainly by fuel cycle developments, and estimated to be commercially deployable by about 2020.